Fixture for releasably supporting radio frequency antenna



Feb. 9, 1960 FIXTURE FOR RELEASABLY SUPPORTING RADIO FREQUENCY ANTENNA Filed Dec. 2, 1958 F. A. WILLIAMS 2,924,416

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. FRED A.Wll LlAMS wzmwmwm ATTYS.

Pd). 9, 1960 F. A. WILLIAMS FIXTURE FOR RELEASABLY SUPPORTING RADIO FREQUENCY ANTENNA Filed Dec. 2, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 72 74: FIG. 4

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INVENTOR. FRED A. WILLIAMS (Qww pw ATT YS.

4 States FIXTURE FOR RELEASABLY SUPPORTING RADIO FREQUENCY ANTENNA This invention relates. to mechanism for releasably supporting a radio frequency antenna, and, more particularly, is concerned with apparatus for releasably supporting rotary radio beams, television antennas and/or vertical antennas on a mast, and whereby the beam or antenna can be readily lowered from or raised to a mast to facilitate installation, inspection-or servicing.

It is the usual practice to mount a multi-element shortwave "transmitting or receiving antenna .on a vertical mast which'is capable of rotation so as to direct the antenna in the desired transmitting or receiving direction. In radio amateur operations, and in the reception of television programs in fringe areas it is desirable to mount the mul'thelement antennas as high aspossible which'makes the initial antenna installations, andparticularly the ins'pejction and servicing of the antennas, a difficult and dangerous operation.

'It is the general object of my invention to simplify and expedite the installation and servicing of multi-element beam type antennas of the rotary type, as well as fixed TV or vertical antennas by'the provision of fixturemeans capable of being mouhted'upon the top of a vertically direeted mast, with means being provided for raising the antenna to interlocking engagement with the fixture means, togetherwith means operable from a distance for releasing'the'interlocking means so that the antenna can be lowered from the fixture means for inspection or repair.

Another object of my invention is the provision of apparatus of the type described characterized by simpli'city and 'inexpensiveness of construction, facility of installation, and ease and positiveness ofoperation.

Another object of my invention is to .pro'vide a releasable support for a high-frequency radio antenna which does not interfere with the rotary movement of the antenna in use, and with which both a rotary beam and a vertiea'l antenna can be simultaneously mounted.

The foregoing objects of my invention, and other objects'which will become apparentas the description .proceeds, are achieved by the combination in a releasable support for an antennaof a mast, "a member fixed to the mast, anantenna, a member-fixed to the antenna, means for moving the second member toward and from the first member, means for locking the members together when they are brought into engagementwith each other, and means operable from a distance for releasing the locking means. a

For a better understanding of "the invention, reference should be had tothe accompanying drawings wherein- Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the mechanism of the invention employed'tomount a rotary radio beam on a support mast carried by a tower;

Fig. 2 is afragmentary perspective view'illustrating the mechanism of the invention utilized to mount a lazy X fixed type television antenna upona fixed mast secured to a house chimney.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the releasablesupport apparatus of=Figs. *1 and 2, andwith the inatent "ice terlocking parts shown somewhat separated and in side elevation, portions thereof being broken away; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but constituting a front elevation of the apparatus of Fig. 3, certain portions of the mechanism being broken away to further illustrate the construction of the parts.

In the drawings, and having reference to Fig. l, the numeral 10 indicates generally a radio tower carrying at its top a rotary support 12 to which is fixed a vertically extending mast 14. The mast 14 has secured to its top the releasable fixture mechanism of the present invention and indicated as a whole by the numeral 16. A pair of control cables 18 and 20 extend from the fixture mechanism 16 down to near the bottom of the mast 10 for reasons hereinafter described in detail.

The fixture mechanism 16 supports substantially in horizontal direction a radio beam 22 carrying a plurality of antenna elements 24 substantially at right angles to the beam and also in substantially horizontal position, all in accord with well known practice.

Turning now to Fig. 2, this illustrates a substantially vertical mast 26 fixed by straps or brackets 28 to a chimney 30 of a house 32. Secured to the top of the mast 26 is the fixture unit 16 of the present invention, and this carries a substantially vertically extending tube or beam 34 .to which is secured in known fashion a fixed television antenna, this being shown at 36 to be of the well known lazy X type utilizing a reflector.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate in greater detail the construction and manner, of operation of the releasable fixture mechanism of the invention, the numeral 16 being utilized to indicate the mechanism as a whole. In the drawings, the mechanism has been illustrated with the interlocking parts separated slightly, as when the antenna is being raised or lowered, and to better illustrate the structure and operation. The mechanism 16 includes an inverted cup-shaped socket 44) of substantially rectangular cross section usually made from sheet metal and having a flared lower end 42. Means are provided for securing the socket member 40 to the top of a mast l4, and this can be conveniently achieved by the use of U-bolts 44 fitting in laterally offset loops 46 formed on the side of the socket 40.

The top of the socket 40 is formed with an opening 48. through which a cable 18 extends downwardly in a substantially vertical direction. The cable extends upwardly and around a pulley 50 or similar means, with the free end of the cable running down towards the ground in the manner shown in Fig. l. The pulley 50 is set at-a'n angle so that the cable will miss the mast 14.

The downwardly extending reach of the cable passing through the socket 40 is connected to the top of a sheet metal plug member'also of substantially rectangular cross section indicated by the numeral 52. The socket and plug members are preferably of greater width in one direct'lon than in a direction normal thereto, as seen in Figs. 3 and 4,-so as to permit coupling only with the antenna properly orientated. The cable can be fastened to the plug member 52 in any of a plurality of ways, for example, by extending through a hole 54 in the top of the plug member and being wrapped-around a pin 56 and back and around itself in the manner shown. The plug member 52 is made complementary to the socket' itt so that it will'fit into the socket, and the plug member 52 is upwardly tapered in the manner shown in Figs. 3 and 4 so as to facilitate and guide the movement of the plug into the socket.

Means are associated with the plug 52 for automatically but releasably locking the plug'52 in the socket 40, and these means may take a variety of forms. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the locking means comprises a pair of outwardly spring-pressed pins '58,

Patented Feb. '9, 1960- upper end pivotally connected to the pivot pin 66. Therod 72 is arcuately formed over a portion of its length, as best'seen in Fig. 3, so as to clear the bottom of the plug 42, with the lower end of the rod 72 terminating in an eye 74 to which a cable 20 is attached extending down towards the ground so that the locking means of the plug can be operated and released from a distance.

The top sides of the spring pins 58 are inwardlyand upwardly beveled so that as the plug 52 moves into the socket 40 the pins 58 are pressed inwardly towards the plug to allow the plug to move into the socket, but recesses 76 are provided in the sides of the socket 40 into which the pins 58 snap once the plug 52 is fully nested within the socket to thereby lock the plug firmly in the socket.

In the form of the invention illustrated, the plug 52 is formed of a single strap of sheet metal and into the contour illustrated and with the sides of the plug open. The base of the plug 52, indicated by the numeral 80, is adapted to having a horizontal beam 22 of a multielement antenna secured thereto, and this can conveniently be accomplished by means of U-bolts 82 in the manner shown in the drawings. By forming the base 80 of the plug 52 with opposed notches for receiving the legs of the U-bolts 82 it is possible to mount beams 22 of various diameters on the bottom of the plug 52 by selecting U-bolts 82 of a size to best fit the beam 22 to be mounted.

A laterally and downwardly extending bracket 86 is secured to or formed integrally with the base 80 of the plug 52, and the vertically directed flange 88 thereof is formed with opposed notches 90, as in the base 80, for receiving a variety of U-bolt sizes, and a vertical antenna, tube or mast 34, as seen in Fig. 3, can be secured to the vertically directed flange 88 by U-bolts 92. Fig. 4 does not show the mast 34 and the U-bolts 92 in order that the other details of the mechanism can be better seen.

It is believed that the operation of the apparatus will be evident from the foregoing description. Sufiice it to say here that the fixture mechanism of the invention and comprising the socket 40 and plug 52, with or without the cables 18 and 20 and with or Without the U-bolts 44, 82, and 92 will be sold as a unit. The socket 40 will be secured to a vertical mast of, for example, the type shown in either Fig. 1 or 2, usually before the mast is raised, the cable 18 will be passed over the pulley 50 with two ends extending down to the ground. The mast 14 or 26 is now raised and fastened in position. Now the cable end extending down through the socket 40 will be connected to the plug 52. Thereafter, either the beam 22 or the mast 34 or both are secured to the plug 52 as heretofore described and with the plug down at ground level. The cable 20 will be secured to the eye 74 and the free end of the cable 18 will then be pulled in to raise the plug 52 and the radio antenna or antennas up to the desired vertical position, with the end of the plug 52 nesting into the socket 40 even if there is some misalignment of the plug and socket, the flared end 42 and tapers on the plug accomplishing the proper nesting movement. Should it develop in a wind or under certain conditions that a multi-element antenna would have to be held against swinging movement a light cord or twinecould be wrapped around an extending element of the antenna to hold it against swinging movement and to assist in aligning or guidingthe plug 52 into the socket 40 whereupon the cord or twine would be pulled free of the antenna element.

As the plug 52 moves into the socket 40 the springpressed pins 58 yield until snapping into the recesses or openings 76 in the socket at which time the plug is automatically and positively locked in the socket with the beam or mast held in desired position at the top of the mast 14 or 26-, as will be evident. The cables 18 and 20 in the case of the rotary mast of Fig. 1 are secured near the bottom of the tower 10 but with enough slack in the cable so that the mast can properly rotate through 360 degrees. Neither the cable 18 nor the cable 20 has to be tightly fastened because the plug and socket members are interlocked together without any requirement of a tight cable. It will be recognized that this is important so that the beam type antenna is free to rotate. In the arrangement of Fig. 2 the cables 18 and 20 can be more snugly fastened near the bottom of the chimney although there is no need to do so.

Now at a later time should it become necessary to inspect or repair the antenna, or the feeder lead-in wires therefrom, it is only necessary to grasp both cables 18 and 20, and pull on cable 20 to operate the toggle linkage 64 from the full line to the dotted line position to thereby release the spring pins 58 from the recesses 76 whereupon the cable 20 can be paid out to lower the antenna down to the ground it can be examined and/or repaired.

To return the antenna to its working position the cable 20 need only be pulled in to reposition and lock the plug 52 in the socket 40, as heretofore described.

While in accord with the patent statues, I have specifically illustrated and described one best known embodiment of my invention, it is to be particularly understood that I am not to be limited thereto or thereby, but that the scope of my invention is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination in a releasable support for a radio 7 frequency antena of a mast, a two-part plug and socket member having one part secured to the mast, an antenna, the other part of the plug and socket member being secured to the antenna, a cable connected to said other part, a pulley on the one part over which the cable extends so that pulling on the cable will raise the said other part into engagement with the one part on the mast, said plug and socket members having cooperating parts of elongate cross section in one direction to provide interlocking engagement in a desired orientation of the antenna only, spring interlocking means for releasably securing the two parts together, and a cable secured to the last-named means for releasing the interlocking means whereupon the first-named cable can be paid out to lower the antenna. I

2. A support for a radio frequency antenna including a cup-shaped sheet-metal socket having a flared opening, means adapted to secure the socket to a mast in an inverted position, a pulley journalled on the top of the inverted socket with one side of the pulley vertically centered over a hole through the socket, a cable extending over the pulley and vertically downward through the hole in the socket, a sheet metal plug complementary to the socket and adapted to fit therein, said socket and said plug being substantially rectangular in cross section and of greater width in one direction than in a direction normal thereto to provide proper orientation of the antenna, means securing the top of the plug to the end of the cable extending downwardly through the socket, substantially horizontally movable pin means mounted in the body of the plug and resiliently urged into locking engagement with recesses formed in the socket when the plug is pulled into the socket by the cable, said plug being upwardly tapered to facilitate guiding the plug into the socket, said pin means being inwardly beveled in an upward direction so as to be wedged inwardly as the plug moves into the socket until the pin means reach the recesses whereupon they snap outwardly into locking relation with the recesses, linkage means for moving the pin means inwardly out of locking relation, a cable connected to the linkage means for operating the linkage means, means for securing a horizontal radio beam to the bottom of the plug, and means for securing a vertical beam to the side of the bottom of the plug.

3. A support for a radio frequency antenna including a cup-shaped sheet metal socket, means adapted to secure the socket to a mast in an inverted position, means on the top of the inverted socket with one side of the means vertically centered over a hole through the socket, a cable extending over the means and vertically downward through the hole in the socket, a sheet metal plug complementary to the socket and adapted to fit therein, said socket and said plug being substantially rectangular in cross section and of greater width in one direction than in a direction normal thereto to provide proper orientation of the antenna, means securing the top of the plug to the end of the cable extending downwardly through the socket, substantially horizontally movable pin means mounted in the body of the plug and resiliently urged into locking engagement with recesses formed in the socket when the plug is pulled into the socket by the cable, said plug being upwardly tapered to facilitate guiding the plug into the socket, said pin means being inwardly beveled in an upward direction so as to be wedged inwardly as the plug moves into the socket until the pin means reach the recesses whereupon they snap outwardly into locking relation with the recesses, linkage means for moving the pin means inwardly out of locking relation, a cable connected to the linkage means for operating the linkage means, means for securing a horizontal radio beam to the bottom of the plug, and means for securing a vertical beam to the side of the bottom of the plug.

4. A support for a radio frequency antenna including a cup-shaped socket, means adapted to secure the socket to a mast in an inverted position, means on the top of the inverted socket with one side of the means vertically centered over a hole through the socket, a cable extending over the means and vertically downward through the hole in the socket, a plug complementary to the socket and adapted to fit therein, said plug and said socket members having cooperating parts of elongate cross section 4 in one direction to provide coupling them only in one oriented position, means securing the top of the plug to the end of the cable extending downwardly through the socket, movable pin means mounted in the body of the plug and resiliently urged into locking engagement with recesses formed in the socket when the plug is pulled into the socket by the cable, said plug being upwardly tapered to facilitate guiding the plug into the socket, said pin means being inwardly beveled in an upward direction so as to be wedged inwardly as the plug moves into the socket until the pin means reach the recesses whereupon they snap outwardly into locking relation with the recesses, means for moving the pin means inwardly out of locking relation, a cable connected to the last-named means for operating the means, means for securing a horizontal radio beam to the bottom of the plug, and means for securing a vertical beam to the side of the bottom of the plug.

5. A support for a radio frequency antenna including a cup-shaped socket, means adapted to secure the socket to a mast in an inverted position, means on the top of the inverted socket with one side of the means vertically centered over a hole through the socket, a cable extending over the means and vertically downward through the hole in the socket, a plug complementary to the socket and adapted to fit therein, said plug and said socket members having cooperating parts of elongate cross section in one direction to provide coupling them only in one oriented position, means securing the top of the plug to the end of the cable extending downwardly through the socket, movable pin means mounted in the body of the plug and resiliently urged into locking engagement with recesses formed in the socket when the plug is pulled into the socket by the cable, said plug being upwardly tapered to facilitate guiding the plug into the socket, said pin means being inwardly beveled in an upward direction so as to be wedged inwardly as the plug moves into the socket until the pin means reach the recesses whereupon they snap outwardly into locking relation with the recesses, means for moving the pin means inwardly out of locking relation, a cable connected to the last-named means for operating the means, and means for securing an antenna to the bottom of the plug.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 952,521 Hebendahl Mar. 22, 1910 1,662,334 Reberg Mar. 13, 1928 1,884,201 Phillippe Oct. 25, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS 328,719 Italy Aug. 17, 1935 

